Managing a fleet is difficult when the team you’re leading is dispersed geographically. While every fleet is different, it is likely to be rare that you’re all in the same place at once. Even though your drivers work independently, a sense of group cohesion is a crucial part of a successful team. So, what can you do to create a healthy team rapport when the drivers are passing ships? Unorthodox as it may sound, introducing team building activities days can be a gamechanger.

Team building activities are infamous for their cheesiness, forced positivity, and cringe-worthy happy-clappy moments. We understand your hesitation to suggest this to your independent drivers. You might expect your drivers to be embarrassed by the suggestion of a team day. But when done well, your drivers will look forward to team activity days. So, make sure you take the time to prove your team wrong if they roll their eyes at the suggestion of team building activities!

What are the Benefits of Corporate Team Building Activities?

We’ve already established that team building activities help build team rapport, but with what else can it help?

• Trust-building - a cornerstone of successful and satisfied employees is a high-trust environment. We talk more about how you can foster that in our Comprehensive Guide to Fleet Management.
• New opportunities for meaningful communication on a personal level
• Increased collaboration and motivation
• Higher employee engagement and morale
• Develops problem-solving and decision-making skills

All of these benefits bring a bonus benefit – increased productivity and performance at work.

Team Building Activities Ground Rules

Let’s lay down some ground rules before we explore some ideas. A team-building day shouldn’t be a box-ticking activity to make you feel like a good manager. Be willing to invest in a quality day to meet the goals of the exercise:

• Make your team feel valued and appreciated
• Create opportunities for organic connection
• Give your employees space to show up as humans, rather than workers
• Plan such a great day that they look forward to the next one

Team Building Activities for Employees

Escape room
If you’re stumped for ideas when it comes to corporate team building activities, escape rooms are ideal for falling back on as they tick all the boxes!

Being outside the work setting means employees may feel more relaxed and in the mood to socialise. Escape rooms are also gender-neutral, so you’re not worrying about excluding anybody. The best thing about escape rooms is the collaboration they require from participants. The motivation to escape the room within the time limit quickly outweighs any inhibitions or shyness, setting the tone for future opportunities to work together.

Not only does this type of activity facilitate communication skills development and creative working, but It also allows you, as the manager, to observe the roles to which each team member naturally gravitates. This gives you valuable insight into who works best with whom.

Driving racecourse
Cliché as it may be, this activity gives your team a day to enjoy a different type of driving. Forget being stuck in traffic or driving a haulage vehicle to a deadline. Instead, give your team the chance to blow off some steam and whizz around a race circuit in something a little sleeker than an HGV. Although this in itself isn’t a team activity, it does demonstrate that you are willing to invest in your team and give them space to have some fun. You can finish the day off with a meal and drinks to catch up.

Professional Development Workshop
If you’re looking for something less whimsical for your team, a professional development workshop is a low-key alternative. Although it won’t be quite as fun or energising as the previous two suggestions, it’s an excellent way to bring the fleet together and work on a skill collectively and demonstrate that you’re willing to invest in your team’s wellbeing and job satisfaction. If you choose this option, consider asking your fleet what they’d like training for so that it’s a worthwhile exercise rather than a ticked box.

For more information and advice on managing a fleet successfully, find out your management style or have a look at our 10 tips for fleet managers.